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Mercedes pays homage to it's heritage. So that's BMW, Porsche and
Mercedes showing off their half- century-old designs, and all of
the displays commanded crowds. We like these cars- we like the character
and the styling, and it looks like our favorite carmakers got the
message. |
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I love this car. Again, it hasn't changed since it came out, and
it's still superb. Face, gills, scoops- all styling cues from the
past. |
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I'm sorry, but the SLR displays always make me laugh. Big badass
powerful car with the intimidating styling- and auto transmission...
|
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oh look, this year it's a convertible. I didn't check the trunk...
but it looks like they moved the exhausts to the rear... |
19
2007 Mercedes SLR... exhausts practically under the driver's side
window... Hey, how do you get out of that car in a tight parking
space? |
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Hello familiar face. Porsche knows that when you have a winner,
there's no reason to change it for change's sake. |
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As much as I want to see new things, I also appreciate seeing great
cars that haven't changed much. |
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Really, can you complain about the design of this car in 2008? |
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1960 Porsche RS-60 Surrounded by the latest and greatest, this is
still the hottest car in the room. |
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Nearly 50 years old, and I'd rather styling and design was heading
here. It's beautiful. Hip gills! |
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This is what the interior of a roadster is supposed to
look like. Fire extinguisher yes, cupholder, NO.
|
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No legs either.. ah well. |
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While it spared no weight for cupholders and interior trim, they
took the time to make beautiful details. At last I understand the
rear of the Boxster (non-S) with the single exhaust looking like
a poop shoot. |
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Every question I have about the Porsche styling and "face"
today are answered by the 1960 p-car |
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A natural evolution from the RS-60. Curves, stance, scoops, gills...
|
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Creating this display Porsche clearly knows where it's assets lie.
"Retro" styling is not a limiting classification, it is
a compliment when tastefully and judiciously incorporated into modern
design. |
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Pontiac Solstice. Surprise! Doesn't it's face remind you of the
P Cars? |
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I see the Porsche syling in this Americanized, cheaper version.
|
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Also easy to see even design cues in the Solstice incorporated into
the BMW CS concept car. |
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There is a universality of design. Defy it and suffer the consequences.
Accept it and reap the rewards. |
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On the way out (short trip for me, had to get home for the sitter)
Jon pointed out the Saleen. "Power in the Hands of a Few".
|
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Jon estimated the cost of this Saleen at about $1 Million. Power
in the hands of a few will probably stay in the few - no one was
even looking at these cars. |
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Sure is purty though. |
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This too is a Saleen- in that weird irridescent orange color that
was so pervasive last year, and cropped up on a bunch of cars this
year. It's pretty the first 20 times you see it. Then it's just
a lot... of... orange. |
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Like this Pontiac G8, in the same orange metallic paint that changes
color in the light. We had an irridescent car at one of the Z3 Homecomings,
98 I think, the guy worked for DuPont I think and was trying to
create buzz to sell the paint color. I guess some car marques bought
it. In orange. Just orange. |
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Dodge Zeo-they had the same color on their concept car last year,
the Daemon, and they have it on their concept car this year... |
25
Hummm last year's Dodge Concept car in the then-new orange metallic...
|
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Last year I complained that the Bentleys were too plain in white.
I apologize... this year they had the white and... |
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..this odd color of purple/maroon... |
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and this powder blue and rose pink concoction- ick. |
52
2007 Bentley. In light of the ugly colors they chose this year-
I apologize. Go back to white. |
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Hello Ferrari Face. |
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Back to the department of cars we are glad didn't change much- and
would still be happy to be passed by on the road. Usually when these
pass you don't get to see the detail... |
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Usually all you get to see for more than an instant is this view...
getting smaller and smaller very quickly... and it's still fun to
watch. |
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Hi, I am a Lamborghini. See my face? I didn't change my styling
much, got a problem with that? Guess how much space I have in my
trunk... |
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ooooo ooooo doors that go up... seen it many times and it still
is cool to watch |
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Aston Martin picked better color scheme this year... |
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Another car that hasn't changed much in styling- thank goodness!
|
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and I wont mind being passed by this car either. |
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Nice gray... |
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Nice white... as much as I wish Aston Martin would make more of
a color commitment...after last year's mistake... |
72
2007- Aston Martin's ketchup and mustard combo. Much better color
choices these year! |
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Dodge Challenger- nice except the only thing it's challenging is
last year's Camaro concept car |
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2008 Dodge Challenger will come on the market before the Camaro
|
46
2007 Camaro concept car- and it's convertible! |
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Another car that hasn't changed styling, and that's a good thing.
|
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Last thing I saw - before the repeat of the stacked Scions ... WHY
repeat the same thing?- was this Guitar Hero game. I haven't played
so I don't know how it applied to the Auto Show. |
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But apparently it was enjoyable. |
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